A new world record that will be very hard to beat

IT’S going to be a hard one to beat — in more ways than one.

A Kerry village unveiled what it claims to be the world’s biggest bodhrán last night to mark the start of the first World Bodhrán Championships.

The instrument, which was unveiled in Milltown, measures one-a-half metres in diameter and is made of 100% authentic red deer stag hide. It’s over twice the size of an average bodhrán.

Other attempts to build the world’s biggest bodhrán have only involved synthetic materials.

But World Bodhrán Championships spokesman Owen O’Shea said this is the first attempt to make a large bodhrán with purely authentic animal hide.

“The Guinness Book of Records have been contacted and it is understood that they will assess the record bid in the coming weeks,” he said.

The bodhrán was made over the last seven weeks by Wally Dalton, originally from St Luke’s in Cork but now based in west Kerry.

“It was a ferocious thing altogether to make,” he said.

“I was watching and watching the skin as it was stretching. I took it as far as it would go. But the sound is grand.”

Last night’s unveiling marked the start of a weekend of entertainment in Milltown as bodhrán players and drummers from all over the globe began to descend on the mid-Kerry town for the championships.

Top performers will include Liam Ó Maonlaí, Colm Murphy, Tommy Hayes, Mel Mercier, and Prof Micheál Ó Suilleabháin.

Organisers expect up to 10,000 people over the bank holiday weekend with the fine weather expected to boost figures.

Free outdoor concerts and events will take place throughout the town over the three-day event.

The huge bodhrán will be on display in Milltown over the weekend.

* Details and tickets for the various events are available from 066 9765601.